Thus, we might argue that within a computer system, a clock provides a basic support mechanism for emulating the emotional mechanisms of the human mind.

An additional useful concept derived from a clock, from a trustworthiness standpoint, is the maintenance of a continuous time-stamp; an absolute timing indicator that can be coordinated with the world outside the transcendent personal device. Through this mechanism, the time of occurrence of transactions can be linked to the passage of time in that outside world. On large scale systems, clocks are often synchronized to standard time indicators transmitted by the U.S. Naval Observatory. In extreme cases, clock facilities that are synchronized to vibrational models of specific atoms provide extremely accurate interval timing. Obviously, any synchronization with the external world would require both the internal and external domains to be encompassed by a common trust infrastructure.

Communication from the outside world into today’s secure cores benefits, from a security standpoint, from being simple. In actuality, the relatively low speed channel into current secure cores is attractive from the standpoint of insuring the internal security of the device. Unfortunately, this single, low speed channel greatly diminishes the effectiveness of the device in projecting the presence of the transcendent personal device bearer into the variety of policy environments in which it could be most effective in enhancing the capabilities of the bearer to meet her or his individual needs. Consequently, we see great advantage in a two phase facility for input and output within the transcendent personal device; a multi-sensory system facility with the outside world and the device body and a more direct descendant of the current, simple channel between the body and the trusted core agent.

As we’ve previously noted, the physical basis for communication channels within and among computers always derives from signals sent via the electromagnetic spectrum. Some channels utilize electrical signals sent along solid conductors such as copper or gold wire (we call these contact channels) while other channels are effected through radio frequency signals transmitted between one computer and another (we call these contactless channels). Contact channels typically have the characteristic of allowing higher data rate transmission to be established with a minimum of equipment relative to radio frequency based channels. Contact channels also tend to be easier to sequester in some fashion so as to prevent, or at least strongly limit, eavesdropping of the channel. Contactless channels have the characteristic of allowing effective communication without requiring physical collocation. This means that the transcendent personal device can remain firmly in the possession of its bearer at all times, thus establishing a guard against many types of attack. Of course, such radio frequency based channels are difficult, if not impossible, to shield from eavesdroppers unless they are simply shut down. Consequently, cryptographic protocols are required to render the channels private in the face of such eavesdroppers. The transcendent personal device would benefit from having both classes of connectivity to the outside world. Such a variety of input and output facilities would allow the transcendent personal device to interconnect with virtually any policy infrastructure that its bearer would be likely to encounter during daily life. Perhaps, this is an appropriate point to interject a more speculative technological development.

Neural research is making tremendous inroads into the capability to monitor and in some instance affect the operational characteristics of neural network structures within the brain. Micro connectors provide facilities to establish direct electro-chemical connectivity to collections of neurons. One might anticipate that in the future, perhaps even the relatively near future, nanotechnological components might allow connection to very small collections of neurons; perhaps even to individual neurons. Moreover, should this connectivity come to pass it would

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